Date: later than 22 February 1945 when W/O Jack Smith received his Commission and promotion to Pilot Officer. From the background vegetation, it appears to be Spring/Summer, possibly March/April/May 1945. The building in the left background looks like the location used for the group photos of Bomb Aimers, Wireless Operators, Navigators, and Gunners of 462 Squadron Foulsham, February/March 1945.
Birch first flew with this crew on an Op on 2 May 1945, replacing the previous Navigator M Wall (1399817 RAFVR), who was posted from the Squadron in May 1945.

Photo from the Gordon Leo Goldie Collection.

Note the ornate ceiling and wall panels, and the thickness and depth of the door frame.

Goldie was posted to 21 OTU Moreton-in-Marsh, on 23 May 1944, and after the crew formed, they were relocated to the Satellite airfield at Enstone. The Bear Pub at Woodstock is about 7 miles from the village of Enstone, or 8-9 miles from the airfield by various routes. It can be assumed that this photo was taken during the crew's posting to 21 OTU Enstone, sometime after 23 May and before 18 August 1944, when they were posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire.

Comment from Ian Goldie: "The darts photo I believe is in the Bear, an absolutely gorgeous hotel/pub in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. My wife and I lived about 2 miles away in 1989-92. I can't identify the other crew members."

Smith was at the rank of Flight Sergeant from 1 January 1944 and was promoted to Warrant Officer on 1 January 1945 (later P/O, and F/O)
Goldie was at the rank of Flight Sergeant from 11 May 1944 and was promoted to Warrant Officer on 11 May 1945 (later P/O, and F/O)

They crewed up at 21 OTU Moreton-in-Marsh on/after 23 May 1944; posted to Acaster Malbis on 18 August; posted to 1658 HCU Riccall on 7 November; and to 462 Squadron Driffield on 16 November 1944.

The date and location of this photo is not known, however it appears to be in a park, and in hot weather, with 2 having removed their ties, and one without his jacket. From their rank, and postings, it was most likely summer, June-August 1944, while at 21 OTU.

Photo from the Gordon Leo Goldie Collection.

A similar photo has been received from RAAFA Bull Creek, with caption "c.1945 F/O Jack Smith, crew and ground staff". It shows 16 men below the nose of Z5-P – 14 in flying gear, and 2 without flying gear. That 16-man photo is out of focus, but appears to include the nine above, so was probably taken at a similar time.
This reinforces the belief that the above photo was taken before or after their "Cook's Tour" on 7 May 1945.

From logbook of Al Oakes, the crew trained in Z5-P on 11 January 1945 before Birch crewed with them.
They carried out only one Op in Z5-P on 21 February 1945, an early return with port outer engine U/S, however the Nav on that flight was M Wall, not Birch as shown here.
They did not ever fly on Ops with a crew of nine.

Their only other flight in MZ341 Z5-P was on 7 May, a "Cook's Tour" to view bomb damage at 1500 ft, one of six 462 Squadron aircraft similarly tasked. The ORB states that each Halifax carried 14 persons, including ground crew. Therefore it could be assumed that this photo is from 7 May 1945, prior to Stevenson being posted from the Squadron. The 8th man may be Stan Tills (see his photos on page for Special Duties – WINDOW); and 9th may have been ground crew. Return to top

Photos from the National Archives of Australia: A9300, 427264

Above left: Jack Roy Smith at enlistment, Perth WA, 15 June 1942.

Above right: Jack Roy Smith in training, Australia, 1942 or 1943
He embarked for the UK from Sydney on 11 August 1943.

PILOT

Name: Jack Roy SMITH
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 427264
Date of Birth: 8 June 1916 (age almost 29 by VE Day)
Place of Birth: Cue, Western Australia
Date of Enlistment: 15 June 1942
Place of Enlistment: Perth, WA
Next of Kin: Mabel Dorothy SMITH (wife)
Date of Discharge: 7 January 1946
Rank: Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge: 462 Squadron
Prisoner of War: No

Name: Gordon Leo GOLDIE(known as Bill)
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 430428
Date of Birth: 4 May 1914 (age 31 by VE Day)
Place of Birth: Mildura, Victoria
Date of Enlistment: 29 January 1943
Place of Enlistment: Melbourne, Victoria
Next of Kin: Sylvia GOLDIE (wife)
Date of Discharge: 27 February 1946
Rank: Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge: 462 Squadron
Prisoner of War: No

Photo from the National Archives of Australia: A9300, 430428

His identification sign reads "428 Goldie WOP/AG 83".
The envelope accompanying these two negatives was labelled "WOP/AG Goldie Sgt 83 430420" (sic, 430428). He had received his Wireless Badge on 13 October 1943 at 2 WAGS Parkes, Course 38.
He received his Air Gunner Badge on 11 November 1943 at 2 BAGS Port Pirie, also Course 38, and was promoted to Sergeant and re-mustered as WOP/AG on the same date.

Photo from the National Archives of Australia: A9300, 430428

As for the photo on the left, this second image was taken from a negative in the same envelope.
It has been assumed that both photos were taken on or soon after 11 November 1943 at 2 BAGS Port Pirie. His next posting was to 2 Embarkation Depot at Bradfield Park, Sydney in preparation for embarkation to the UK on 12 December 1943.

Photo from the Gordon Leo Goldie Collection.

P/O Gordon Leo Goldie and his Bride Sylvia on their Wedding Day at Hove, near Brighton, UK, 1945.

He received his Commission and Appointment to Pilot Officer on 26 June 1945.

Photo from the Gordon Leo Goldie Collection.

Close-up of Groom P/O Bill Goldie and his Bride Sylvia on their wedding day at Hove, near Brighton, UK, 1945.

Photo from the Gordon Leo Goldie Collection.

"Goldie's Service Station" built in about 1953 by Gordon Leo Goldie and his brother.

Photo from the Gordon Leo Goldie Collection.

Gordon Leo Goldie (Bill Goldie), previously of 462 Squadron.

From Ian Goldie: "This picture I took of him in our dining room in 1975, looking very typical of him ... always loved that photo!"

Name: Albert Edward PERKES(known as Alf)
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 429346
Date of Birth: 30 August 1923 (age almost 22 by VE Day)
Place of Birth: Dimbulah, Queensland
Date of Enlistment: 11 September 1942
Place of Enlistment: Brisbane, Queensland
Next of Kin: George PERKES
Date of Discharge: 15 May 1946
Rank: Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge: 9 Air Crew Holding Unit, Gamston
Prisoner of War: No

Please see below for photos of Alf Perkes.

FLIGHT ENGINEER

Name: W T PARKER(known as Wilf)
Service: Royal Air Force
Service Number: 1897610
Date of Birth: Unknown
Place of Birth: Unknown
Date of Enlistment: From January 1943
Place of Enlistment: Euston, UK
Next of Kin: Unknown
Date of Discharge: Unknown
Rank: Sergeant (1945, during conflict)
Posting at Discharge: Unknown (ex 462 Squadron)
Prisoner of War: No

Sgt Albert Edward Perkes 429346 RAAF, possibly at or soon after qualifying for his Observer's Badge. He trained in Australia and was promoted to Sergeant on 24 June 1943 at 1 ANS, Parkes. He also trained in Canada, and was attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force from 26 August 1943 to 19 January 1944.

NAVIGATOR 1 (with Crew at Driffield and Foulsham)

Name: M WALL
Service: Royal Air Force
Service Number: 1399817
Date of Birth: Unknown
Place of Birth: Unknown
Date of Enlistment: From August 1940
Place of Enlistment: Euston, UK
Next of Kin: Unknown
Date of Discharge: Unknown
Rank: Flight Sergeant (1945, during conflict)
Posting at Discharge: Unknown (ex 462 Squadron)
Prisoner of War: No

No photo has yet been located of M Wall. He was posted from 462 Squadron sometime in May 1945. He may be one of those not yet identified in the 462 Squadron Foulsham Navigator Group photo of March 1945.
If you can assist, please make contact. Return to top

NAVIGATOR 2 (with Crew at Foulsham)

Name: Frank Lewis BIRCH
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 434165
Date of Birth: 19 November 1911
Place of Birth: Melbourne, Vic
Date of Enlistment: 6 November 1942
Place of Enlistment: Melbourne, Vic
Next of Kin: Frank BIRCH
Date of Discharge: 11 February 1946
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Posting at Discharge: 9 ACHU, Gamston
Prisoner of War: No

Name: Albert Buckley OAKES(known as Al)
Service: Royal Air Force
Service Number: 1880661
Date of Birth: Unknown
Place of Birth: Unknown
Date of Enlistment: From May 1943
Place of Enlistment: Cardington, UK
Next of Kin: Unknown (assumed to be his then-living father)
Date of Discharge: 13 January 1947
Rank: Flight Sergeant (1945, during conflict)
Posting at Discharge: RAF Station near Blackpool
Prisoner of War: No Return to top

MID-UPPER GUNNER

Name: E N STEVENSON(known as Steve)
Service: Royal Air Force
Service Number: 1596367
Date of Birth: Unknown
Place of Birth: Unknown
Date of Enlistment: From September 1941
Place of Enlistment: Weston-super-Mare, UK
Next of Kin: Unknown
Date of Discharge: Unknown
Rank: Sergeant (1945, during conflict)
Posting at Discharge: Unknown (ex 462 Squadron)
Prisoner of War: No Return to top

RFC and RAF Service Numbers are from the website .... http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf (Copy and paste, not a clickable link)

Series 1375001 to 1400000 were allocated from August 1940 from Euston (i.e. M. Wall)
Series 1585001 to 1600000 were allocated from September 1941 Weston-super-Mare (i.e. 'Steve' Stevenson)
Series 1869809 to 1884438 were allocated from May 1943 at Cardington (i.e. Al Oakes)
Series 1890001 to 1899799 were allocated from January 1943 from Euston (i.e. Wilf Parker)

Additional Crew information(more will be added when available; my comments in italics). If anyone can assist with photos and further information about any member of this crew, please make contact.

Posting FROM 462 Squadron - ORB, Form 540 (various pages) May 1945 - F/Sgt M Wall, and F/Sgt E N Stevenson September 1945 - F/O J R Smith; P/O G L Goldie; W/O A E Perkes; F/Sgt W T Parker
August or September 1945 - F/Sgt A B Oakes - his departure was not listed in the ORB, however his his logbook records him at Foulsham on 02 August 1945 flying with F/O Smith; please also refer to his Reminiscences on the Al Oakes page along with additional information for this crew.

Wireless Operator Gordon Leo GOLDIE (also known as Bill GOLDIE)

Following are comments from his son Ian (November 2016) .....

"My father took me to see one of his old mates from wartime. I was studying Law, which my father was very keen for me to do, whilst I wanted to fly. The friend was Navigator Frank Birch. He was a charming man, and was a partner in a Queen Street firm of Solicitors, and was a senior partner with Hamer (then Premier of Victoria). Dad's idea was to talk me out of flying, but I got my first licence while I was studying. It didn't work and I'm not a solicitor! But Frank was extremely pleasant." (Trove Newspapers online – Frank Lewis Birch, Solicitor, 118 Queen St, Melbourne, later 411 Collins St, Melbourne in 1947; Google online Sir Rupert James (Dick) Hamer, Solicitor, and 39th Premier of Victoria from 1972 to 1981.)

"My father's service inspired me to follow the career I've pursued as an airline pilot, although he absolutely dead against it because of his experiences, and those of comrades who stayed in flying after the war. Before he died in December 1994, he told me he was wrong about it, and was very proud that I'd succeeded. He had another son, Roy, and a daughter, Pamela. We're all very proud of his accomplishments both in the RAAF and his path afterward."

"Dad spoke of Jack Smith and that fact he was not very tall for a Pilot. I think Jack may have lived in New Guinea because Dad went up to Port Moresby to see him in about 1966. I met Al Perkes when I was about 10 I think, when he came to visit Dad one afternoon. I have no idea of what has happened to any of them since."
(Jack Smith's height was 5 ft 5½ inches at enlistment).

"Mum (Sylvia) was a war bride, who was originally from Watchet in Somerset, but was living in Brighton when she met Dad. She was an ARP and my Aunt was an ambulance driver. They all migrated to Australia in 1946/7 – war-bride Sylvia, her sister Beatrice and brother-in-law, my Uncle Bert, and my grandmother." (ARP – Air Raid Precautions, a warden to supervise the blackout, and to protect civilians from the danger of air-raids.)

Ian Goldie's description of Birch as a Lawyer has resulted in the identification of the previously unnamed Nav in the crew photo – described by Al Oakes as "Aussie in the photograph who was a lawyer".

Frank then flew with Crew 23, Pilot William Bolton COOKSON 413028 RNZAF, and carried out 11 Ops with that crew – 4 in February and 7 in March. On 22 March the Cookson Crew flew in NA240 Z5-V on a Special Duties RCM Op, with F/Sgt W F KEEHN R.164364 RCAF as Operator of the RCM equipment.

On 2 May 1945 Frank carried out his first Op with Crew 51, Pilot Jack SMITH. It is likely that he continued flying with this crew on the Ruhr Tours (see photo with Halifax Z5-P crew photo section), and post-war non-operational flights. He maintained contact with Bill Goldie's family back in Australia after the war.

In September 1945, Frank Birch was posted from 462 Squadron to 9 Air Crew Holding Unit at RAF Gamston, before repatriation to Australia. He was discharged from the RAAF on 11 February 1946. He resumed his former occupation as Solicitor in civilian life, and his name is frequently seen in legal notices in newspapers of the time (refer to Trove, National Library of Australia online newspapers).

The following explains why Birch had changes of crew while at 462 Squadron.
It is transcribed from page 34 of "Phoenix – Book 2: The Reincarnation. The Story of No 462 Squadron RAAF" by A.G. Batten 1997/1998/1999, reprinted August 2005; published by Batten.

"January 7. (1945) Two of five aircraft detailed for a SPOOF raid on the Ruhr delivered their WINDOW on Nuremburg (sic, Nuremberg), and both bombed Stuttgart; this was the first time that the Squadron aircraft had carried a bomb load in their new role, which in this case consisted of two 500 pound bombs. Of the three aircraft, which returned early, one suffered engine trouble, one hydraulic trouble and one nitrogen failure. All returned safely." (Bailey crew with Nav Birch, Halifax MZ479, early return, engine failure)
"Although it was normal for crews to stay together with the only change being the addition of "spare bods" or Special Operators, circumstances did cause crew changes and Ken Bannerman's crew must have had one of the oddest reasons." (Kenneth Stewart Bannerman, 435086 RAAF, Bomb Aimer for Bailey Crew 46)
"Ken Bannerman explained "Our Navigator was Pilot Officer Frank Birch who was with us for several earlier raids and was, by profession a lawyer. When any Australian got himself involved in a Court Martial offence guess who was seconded to defend him. This meant that our crew was stood down until he became available again. He was as unhappy with this situation as we were so after a discussion among the crew we all went to the C.O., Wing Commander Paull and suggested that Frank would fly with any other crew if the Navigator was unavailable and he was. And so we got a new Navigator, Flight Lieutenant Ken Brown, who was returning to complete his second tour after having had time out training other Navigators after surviving his first tour of 30 raids. He as a very steady influence on Tom, our Pilot, who as the crews 'baby' turning 21 whilst on the Squadron." "(Kenneth John BROWN
410302 RAAF; Flying Officer Frank Birch is the Nav in the Bailey crew photo, opposite page 50 of Batten's book.)

Bomb AimerAlbert Edward PERKES – his A9300 RAAF Service File had not been digitised as of 6 May 2018, however 2 photos (shown in previous section) and a 2-page scan of part of the original file had been received via John Dann, UK – thank you John.

11 September 1942 – Enlisted in the RAAF at 3 Recruiting Centre (3 RC) Brisbane; age 19; single; former civil employment as a Clerk; date of birth 30 August 1923, born at Dimbulah, North Queensland; Methodist; next-of-kin was his father, George Stephen PERKES of Mareeba, North Queensland; nationality "British"; (enlistment photo in previous section)
11 September 1942 – Mustered as Air Crew V; allocated Service Number 429346
11 September 1942 – Classified as Aircraftman 2
11 September 1942 – Posted to 3 Initial Training School (3 ITS) (although location was not named in the file, this would have been at either Sandgate or Kingaroy in Queensland, or both)

02 November 1942 – Re-mustered as Air Crew V (O) – Observer – at 3 ITS
05 December 1942 – Re-mustered as Air Crew II (O) – Observer – at 3 ITS
05 December 1942 – Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC) – at 3 ITS

07 January 1943 – Posted to 1 Air Observer's School (1 AOS), Cootamundra, New South Wales

18 August 1944 – Posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis (and presumably on to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, Riccall with the crew, however Riccall was not listed in Perkes' file)
18 August 1944 – Attached to Group Aircrew School

16 November 1944 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Driffield with the Smith crew

24 December 1944 – Promoted to Warrant Officer – at 462 Squadron

29 December 1944 – Re-located with 462 Squadron from Driffield to Foulsham, as part of the group of "Aircrew Personnel – NCO's" in the "Main Party", travelling by Rail from Driffield, departing at 7.00am for the Driffield Railway Station. Perkes was on the list as "Aus.429346 F/Sgt Perkes, A.E. " so his promotion paperwork appears to have been delayed. The other members of this crew also relocated to Foulsham in the Main Party by rail.

September 1945 – Posted from 462 Squadron, Foulsham (on this date, other personnel from 462 Squadron were posted direct to 9 Aircrew Holding Unit (9 ACHU), Gamston, UK, and this may have also applied to Perkes, and the other RAAF members of this crew.)

1945/1946 – details not yet known – date of receipt of Commission and promotion to Pilot Officer; later promotion to Flying Officer; any later postings in the UK, disembarkation from UK for repatriation to Australia; disembarkation in Australia, later postings in Australia

15 May 1946 – Discharged from the RAAF, at the rank of Flying Officer; his last posting as listed on the WW2 Nominal Roll was 9 Aircrew Holding Unit (9 ACHU), Gamston, UK. Return to top

Rear Gunner Albert Buckley OAKES (Al Oakes)

For more photos of the Smith crew, please visit the page for Albert Buckley OAKES, information supplied by his son Patrick.
On that page is information transcribed from from Al's personal Log Book, which covers training flights at 1658 HCU, Riccall; Ops at 462 Squadron, Driffield and Foulsham; as well as non-operational flying after cessation of conflict, such as Ruhr Tours, Air Tests, Ferrying, and transport of Allied Command staff to Europe.

Also included is a comprehensive memoir written by Al Oakes in 1983.
Al describes his RAF Service, and his Recollections of War, and it makes very interesting and informative reading. The entry following on from 2 May 1945 gives some background details on Bill Goldie's extended pre-wedding celebrations, his getting lost at night, and his car accident with Alf Perkes. From the description, it seems that the crew attended the Goldie wedding at Hove. Return to top